3 Tips on Taking Pictures in the Sun

We're still waiting for the sun to come out for the spring in not-so-Hotlanta, but that isn't stopping us from buying up margarita mix, picking out a new bikini and getting the camera ready for those summertime Kodak moments out on the deck. But shooting in the sunlight does come with its own challenges.

Shooting in really bright light can cause your subjects to look dark in photos. You can go with the flow and shoot silhouettes. Or, you can use a reflector or just your camera's flash to fill the dark areas with direct light.

Direct sunlight can have some wacky effects on your lens. Prevent glare and lens flare with a lens hood. If you're a fake-it-'til-you-make-it aspiring professional, go ahead and buy one (They're $15-$30). But if you want a one-time-use hood that's (practically) free, check out Lenshoods.net and print out a paper-cutout template for your camera model.

The bright light of summertime means lots of shadows—and big contrast in your shots. If you think the contrast is too harsh for your color pictures, switch to a black-and-white mode. Many professional B&W photogs prefer harsh light for its serious contrast capabilities.